Germany, France call for Minsk agreement to be fully effective by end 2015

French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrive at a joint statement at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, July 6, 2015. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer

PARIS (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande held a telephone conversation with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine on Friday to discuss the situation in eastern Ukraine, the French presidency said.

The four countries agreed on a package of measures last February dubbed "Minsk II" and aimed at ending military tensions in the former Soviet state.